By Deborah Rowe 

He may be the world’s first Optimum Nutrition Chef Ambassador, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing for Andrew Johnson in his fitness journey.

Just last November, the 45-year-old Eurasian father of twins became the first Strongman athlete from Singapore to win a silver medal in the ISF Australia Strongman Nationals 2015 Masters Division.

Knowing this and looking at Andrew now, it’s hard to believe he was once a quiet and skinny kid who was bullied.

After being bullied too often, he retaliated, expecting to feel great after doing so. Instead, he only felt worthless.

“I did not feel I had accomplished anything other than to hurt another person. I actually felt worse than being called names,” he commented.

His other struggle with his self-worth and body image came further down the road in his 20s. With the opportunity to travel due to his work as a wine ambassador, coupled with his “see-food” diet, Andrew ballooned to a hefty 139kg for his height of 1.88m, to the extent that even his own mother could no longer recognise him.

Beyond the struggle of dealing with the fact he was now twice his weight, Andrew wasn’t able to handle the pain of the additional stress on his already weakened body as he had gotten into a serious bike accident as a teen.

“Once a fit 63kg boy, I had become a 139kg depressed whale. Walking became a problem. Even getting out of bed felt like my spine was about to snap,” Andrew remarked with a sigh.

Deciding to do something about himself, Andrew worked the courage up and motivation to enter the gym. It was there where he met the late Tan Choo Beng, Mr. Singapore 1951, who helped Andrew kick off his fitness journey.

“When I walked in, he just smiled and before I could tell him all my problems, he said ‘Young man, in life you are given a choice, and today you’ve made that choice to come here. You need not tell me why, as now I will make a choice, and help you.’ “

Fast forward six months later and Andrew had shed over 30kg and was pain-free. The bigger takeaway from his weight loss? “Having positive people in your life is something priceless.”

“I was blessed to experience these people in my life. Believe that every accomplishment starts with a decision to try!”

We chat more with Andrew …

What does body image mean to you?

Personally, I feel it’s something you have to embrace within you; something you grow to understand, be comfortable with, and when you look in to the mirror, to have the confidence and belief that you are unique and special in your own way. The physical you is just a shell; it’s what’s beneath that shell that matters most.

Have you ever been bullied or made fun of for your body?

I was a skinny kid in school and was bullied. After the third time, the anger, resentment and frustration of being called names and having my face rubbed in the dirt was too much.

I hit back but didn’t feel like a hero after. I did not feel I had accomplished anything other than to hurt another person. I actually felt worse than being called names and my self-worth felt like dirt.

Have you ever struggled with body image?

In my early 20s, I had the opportunity to travel and because of my “see-food” diet, I ballooned to 139kg. My eating disorder involved me going “I would like dis-order of hotdogs, dis-order of fish, dis-order of beef…”

I went from wearing jeans to spandex; up until my own mother could not recognise me. However, it was the pain I could not take anymore as when I was 19, I had a serious bike accident, which left the entire left side of my body broken. Coupled with the weight I was carrying, my body couldn’t take it anymore.

I woke up one morning and went to a gym. There I met the late Tan Choo Beng, Mr. Singapore 1951, who offered to help. Six months later, I was 106kg and pain free.

What advice do you have for others who are struggling with their body image?

Embrace it. You and only you can make the choice of who you are within. Only when you love and accept who you are inside, can you love and accept the reflection you see. Understanding the inner you is a journey; it’s not done overnight.

Your perception of a “struggle” can always be turned into “a journey” by choice. You decide, you take control and you are empowered by your self-worth to make that choice; no one can take that from you.

What are some of the misconceptions society has about fitness?

The most common misconceptions I hear of are: “Eat less to lose weight. Eating fat will make you fatter. Women should not carry weights as they will look like men.”

To elaborate on one of the biggest misconceptions that “muscles will turn into fat when you stop working out”; it’s like saying snow will become satay sauce.

Society needs to understand the difference between hypertrophy and atrophy. In simple terms – If you eat well and train, your muscles to grow; when you stop training, the muscles shrink. Muscle fibres can’t turn into fat.

The immediate solution is always to seek clarity from someone who knows what they are talking about; never be shy to ask. There is no shame in asking when you want to learn.

What do you hope to do in your capacity to help those with body image struggles?

If you see me in the gym or on the streets, don’t be afraid to come say hello. If you have a question, just ask. If I don’t know the answer, I will ask someone who does. The end result is that we will both learn something new; it’s all good.

On a more structured approach, I was given the opportunity to be the world’s first Optimum Nutrition Chef Ambassador, and through my social media pages (@cookingwithaj), I am able to offer individuals recipes for the die-hard athlete or for the individual that just needs a healthier choice. It is my way to share the knowledge I have with others. It’s my gift of appreciation to you for making the choice in your journey.